NEWS DESK (MNN); US President Donald Trump said Washington is engaged in talks with an Iranian leader and claimed Tehran is eager to reach a deal to end the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, as he extended a key deadline by five days.
Trump stated that Iran had been given additional time to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face potential strikes on its power plants. He described recent contacts as “very good and productive,” raising hopes for a possible resolution to the conflict, now in its fourth week.
According to Trump, US officials including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held discussions with an unnamed Iranian figure, though he declined to reveal identities, citing security concerns.
However, Iranian authorities rejected these claims. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf termed reports of negotiations as “fake news,” while the foreign ministry said no talks had taken place with Washington.
Trump further asserted that if an agreement is reached, the United States would seek control over Iran’s enriched uranium, a key component of its disputed nuclear programme—an idea Tehran has consistently opposed, insisting on its right to peaceful enrichment.
Despite the diplomatic signals, Trump warned that failure in talks could lead to continued military action. “We’ll just keep bombing,” he said, while also suggesting that Iran had initiated contact with the US.
The developments had an immediate impact on global markets. Oil prices dropped sharply, with Brent crude falling around 13 percent before stabilising, while stock markets rebounded on optimism over a potential deal.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high across the region. Iran has warned it could retaliate by targeting energy infrastructure and even mining Gulf waters, while Israel has continued strikes on Iranian targets.
The conflict, which began on February 28 with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, has already resulted in over 2,000 deaths and triggered a global energy crisis, raising fears of further economic disruption and regional instability.
